MrRAWhite wrote:I'm absolutely buzzing about the game on Saturday.. I'm in the bad books with my better half as I have delayed the leaving time of our holiday so I can get to the game.. I'm really hopeful that we can get our first opening day win for almost a decade..

Allan the highlighted bits I understand fully and I spend a lot of time on twitter because many on there share your and my buzz, a buzz I have not had for years, a buzz I probably should not have at my age but a buzz I cant suppress.

This week I am struggling to get on with a normal life, I am doing the normal things but Saturday is always there at the back of my mind and TBH I cant understand how any long suffering Sunderland fan does not feel the same.

Yes we may get thrashed on Saturday, yes we may be ready for one more false dawn, yes we may fall flat on our face and I honestly understand caution but, after the last few seasons surely we can just let go and enjoy this feeling of excitement.

Here on Sundermad we dont seem to have the buzz that we have judging by the silence all around.

That's why I am spending more time on twitter, I need to find people who like us are excited and actually sharing that excitement.

Many are probably busy at work with time only to pop on to see whats happening....just a thought?

Sunderland boss Jack Ross has suggested to the Chronicle that Jerome Sinclair won’t be ready to start at the weekend.Sunderland kick off their season against Charlton Athletic on Saturday, after what has been a busy week of transfer action for them.Sunderland have brought in Luke O’Nien, Jack Baldwin and Sinclair in recent times.

And Ross is considering starting both O’Nien and Baldwin at the weekend.He said: “Fitness-wise, they [Baldwin and O’Nien] are OK. They have come from other clubs so they have been involved in pre-season, which is different to a free agent who might be catching up fitness-wise.“The exception is Jerome who is still playing catch-up because he was really on the periphery at Watford, but the other two lads would have been part of what their clubs were trying to do for the start of the season.”[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.]Baldwin could step into Sunderland’s defence, and play alongside Glenn Loovens.O’Nien, meanwhile, looks likely to add energy to Sunderland’s midfield options.The Black Cats go into this season under pressure, as the bookies’ favourites to win League One.Sunderland are the biggest team in the third tier, but Charlton looks to be a tough test to start off with, as the Addicks also are among the leading contenders for promotion.

MrRAWhite wrote:I'm absolutely buzzing about the game on Saturday.. I'm in the bad books with my better half as I have delayed the leaving time of our holiday so I can get to the game.. I'm really hopeful that we can get our first opening day win for almost a decade..

Allan the highlighted bits I understand fully and I spend a lot of time on twitter because many on there share your and my buzz, a buzz I have not had for years, a buzz I probably should not have at my age but a buzz I cant suppress.

This week I am struggling to get on with a normal life, I am doing the normal things but Saturday is always there at the back of my mind and TBH I cant understand how any long suffering Sunderland fan does not feel the same.

Yes we may get thrashed on Saturday, yes we may be ready for one more false dawn, yes we may fall flat on our face and I honestly understand caution but, after the last few seasons surely we can just let go and enjoy this feeling of excitement.

Here on Sundermad we dont seem to have the buzz that we have judging by the silence all around.

That's why I am spending more time on twitter, I need to find people who like us are excited and actually sharing that excitement.

I may be as excited as you, just not showing it.

Well I got tickets for saturday for my youngest son (had to drop his season ticket that he has had since he was about four due to going to Uni this year) and my 16 year old daughter (who seems to have caught the SAFC bug for the first time ever). Me and my eldest lad also there with season tickets. I was surprised that I couldn't get two seats together anywhere close to where we sit and have had to get them near the front in the section that I sit.. There are usually a few empty seats around where I sit..

________________________________________________________Born a Sunderland fan, live life as a Sunderland fan and will die a Sunderland fan..

Sunderland AFC kick off the new EFL season on Saturday with a showpiece game against Charlton Athletic and fans are being encouraged to arrive as early as possible for the lunchtime kick off.Fans collecting or buying match tickets should do so in advance of the day of the game where possible. If collecting or purchasing on the day, they should arrive early as queues are expected closer to kick off, due to a higher than usual number of ticket collections.Season card holders are reminded that they should use their existing season card from last season, unless they have moved seats or changed price bracket, in which case they will have been sent a new card.Making the most of the summer weather, the stadium’s popular FanZone will return, initially for the first seven league games of the season. On Saturday it will open at 10.30am, two hours prior to the 12.30pm kick off.Frankie Francis, of Frankie and the Heartstrings fame will return as host, and there will be music and entertainment to get supporters in the match day mood.Current and former players will be appearing and there will be a range of food on offer to whet the appetite. Fans will be able to enjoy the famous chicken Balti pies, sausage rolls, burgers, hotdogs, chips and much more, along with alcoholic and soft drinks.There will be games and competitions for all ages, with Family Zone activities also taking place in the family-friendly FanZone for the next few games. Fans can challenge each other to a game of FIFA 18 on PlayStation and there will be street football and other activities. Foundation of Light, Sunderland AFC’s charity, will also be on hand with some fun, football-themed games.Stadium turnstiles will be open from 11am. Cash turnstiles 45 and 46will be available in the east stand and 31 and 32 in the Carling north stand, with adult tickets only. Concession priced tickets must be bought from the ticket office, which will be open until kick off.Tickets start from £20 for adults and just £7.50 for under 16s.The Stadium of Light ticket office is open for sales weekdays from 9am until 5pm. It will be open from 9am until kick off on the day of the game.HOW TO BUY TICKETSOnline (24-hour service)Telephone: 0371 911 1973 (operating hours replicate the ticket office opening hours listed below.Calls charged at standard rate, plus your phone company’s access charge. The cost of calls from mobile phones may vary.In-person: Stadium of Light ticket office, opening hours as listed…Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pmMatchday Saturday 9am-kick off (12.30pm)Non-matchday Saturday, 9am - 2pmSunday, CLOSEDBookings are subject to a fee of £1.25 per ticket and a postage charge (where applicable) of £1 per transaction, on all telephone and online orders to cover service charges and administrative costs.In the case of group applications, a booking fee of £1.25 will be charged per ticket up to a maximum of £10 per application. Postage charges may vary, please contact the Ticket Office for more information.

Lee has trained fantastically well since I joined, I can only speak from that side. His application and conversations I have had with him, I can't speak highly enough of him. As long as that remains the case, that will continue."